Boom Gets Mickey, Donald, Goofy & the Gang

Speaking to Newsarama at Heroes Con in Charlotte, NC on Saturday, Boom!
Studios’ co-founder and Publisher Ross Richie confirmed that Boom has
acquired the comic book license for Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck from
Disney, and will begin publishing the characters through its Boom Kids
imprint.

Richie also confirmed that rather than kicking off with new titles
immediately, the two titles that will join Boom Kids’ Disney/Pixar and
Muppet titles in September are Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories #699 (by Riccardo Secchi and Stefano Turconi) and Mickey Mouse and Friends #297 (by Stefano Ambrosio and Lorenzo Pastrovicchio). Both titles will be 24 pages and carry a $2.99 cover price.

The comic creators are Italian, part of the large contingent of
creators working for Disney Italia which has been actively producing
new comics and properties for Disney and the European market (such as Paperinik - a superheroic world based around Donald Duck, W.I.T.C.H., Kylion,Monster Allergy and others) for years.

Gemstone last held the license for the Disney characters, but ceased
publication at the end of 2008 due to financial issues within the
company.

Richie said that Boom’s immediate plan for the license is to start telling new stories, much like they have done with The Incredibles, Cars,
The Muppets and others. “The Gemstone material that was being printed
most recently are some of the greatest comics in the world – you’re
talking about Carl Barks and Don Rosa and all these incredible
creators, but what we’re going to be doing is branching off and going
in a completely different direction,” Richie told Newsarama. “We’re
going to start to approach the Mickey and Donald material from a
completely different direction, and we’re going to try to have
something that at the same time is less the ‘greatest hits’ reprints
and more dovetails into what the Boom Kids stuff is, which is sort of
an add to and extension of, modern presence creative take on these
classic characters that I think can connect with kids today.”

That said, Richie added that the rights to publish the classic Disney
Comics material is included in Boom’s license, and the publisher has
plans for it. “We will be handling the classic material,” Richie said,
declining to go into detail at this time. “We’re not going to abandon
the fans that are buying that material, so we will have programs and
products for them.”

While Boom’s take on Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and the rest of
the crew will be new, Richie said that there wasn’t much discussion
when it came to what to call the comics, or rather, what long-running
series to pick up.

“Our first solicitation is for Mickey Mouse and Friends and Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories, Richie said. “Disney comics are some of the longest-running comic in the history of comic book publishing, and Comics and Stories I believe, is the longest-running series behind Action Comics and Detective Comics. Our first issue of Walt Disney Comics and Stories
will be #699, which is kind of humbling legacy to pick up when you have
a comic book company that’s only four years old. To be entrusted with
that sort of thing, it’s obviously something that we’re looking to
handle with the most respect and intensity that we can. I think the
Mickey stories that we’re putting together are really going to surprise
people. It’s very fresh and cool and is going to be a lot of fun.”

Richie indicated that further announcements about more Disney titles
coming from Boom will be made at July’s San Diego Comic-Con.

The solicitations for Boom’s first two issues read:

WALT DISNEY'S COMICS & STORIES #699

(W) Riccardo Secchi (A) Stefano Turconi

One of the longest-lived, greatest comics in history comes to BOOM!
Studios! A direct market event — the title that was host to Walt
Disney's most cherished characters that helped build a decades-spanning
global empire, originally launched in 1942, has come to BOOM! Kids!
Ever wondered what would happen when all the superheroes of the Disney
comics universe star in an epic clash against all the super villains
with the fate of the world at stake? Join The Duck Avenger, Super
Goofy, and the man himself Mickey Mouse for an all-new team of heroes,
an all-new era in Disney publishing! (C: 0-0-1)

24pgs, FC SRP: $2.99

MICKEY MOUSE & FRIENDS #296

(W) Stefano Ambrosio (A) Lorenzo Pastrovicchio

First BOOM! Kids issue! One of the longest-lived, most-successful comic
book series in the industry's history comes to BOOM! and brings a
little magic — presenting Wizards of Mickey! Student of the great
wizard Grandalf, Mickey Mouse hails from the humble village of
Miceland. Allying himself with Donald Duck and his pet dragon named
Fafnir, and team mate Goofy, Mickey's come to the great tournament to
get his revenge on Peg Leg Pete, who has stolen the Rain Crystal from
Miceland! Join Mickey Mouse and his friends on an epic tale of magic
and wonder! (C: 0-0-1)